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In the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks, the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the influenza A (H1N1) pandemic in 2009, Hurricane Sandy in 2012, and the ongoing concern about future similar events, public health officials have acted to strengthen their jurisdictions’ legal preparedness for all types of public health emergencies.

Federal laws and legal authorities address a variety of concerns central to public health emergencies, such as emergency declarations, quarantine and isolation, liability and licensure of workers, and mutual aid, among others. Because these laws involve multiple federal agencies and appear in many official documents, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Public Health Law Program prepared the following annotated list of selected, commonly cited federal legal authorities for reference by public health officials, legal counsel, and others.

This compilation is subject to three caveats: 1) it is not intended to be exhaustive of all relevant legal authority; 2) it was compiled in September 2009 and updated in 2014, and reflects the laws current at the time; and 3) only selected portions of the laws relevant to public health emergencies are presented.

Updated June 2014. Originally drafted in 2009 by Stacie Kershner, J.D., an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education legal fellow at CDC’s Public Health Law Program. Updated by Gregory Sunshine, J.D., an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education legal fellow at CDC’s Public Health Law Program.

Public Health Law Program (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.))

Published:

August 2014

Description:

In the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks, the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the influenza A (H1N1) pandemic in 2009, Hurricane Sandy in 2012, and the ongoing concern about future similar events, p...

Public Health Law Program (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.). Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support.;

Published:

March 2, 2017

Description:

American Indian and Alaska Native tribes are sovereign nations that maintain a government-to-government relationship with the United States. There are currently 567 federally recognized tribes throughout the contiguous United States and Alaska. In ad...

Association of Public Health Laboratories.; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.); Laboratory Efficiencies Initiative.; United States. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.;

Published:

April 2014

Source:

U60HM000803

Description:

Public health laboratories face considerable challenges to ensuring performance of critically important testing services. These challenges stem from financial constraints and uncertainties, ever more sophisticated electronic systems, and new demands ...